Werder Bremen Into UEFA Cup Final

Hamburg 2-3 Werder Bremen (3-3 agg) Werder Bremen inflicted another semi-final Cup defeat on Hamburg with a 3-2 win at the HSH Nordbank Arena giving them a 3-3 away goals win. Ivica Olic put the home side in front, only to see Diego equalise in the first-half. Second-half goals from Claudio Pizarro and Frank Baumann put Werder in the driving seat. A late Olic goal gave HSV brief hope, but it proved too little, too late and it was Werder who booked their final place in Istanbul for a match-up against Shakhtar Donetsk. First Half Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere got the game underway inside a noisy HSH Nordbank Arena with Hamburg kicking off. It was however Werder who got the first effort on goal with Diego firing in a long-range effort, which Frank Rost got down to save well. Compared to the barn-storming first-leg, the first ten minutes of this encounter were a little quiet with both sides probing at their opponents. Both defences were highly focused and were letting nothing through as the opening phase was being played in the middle third of the pitch. Werder carved open a good chance on 12 minutes but Claudio Pizarro wasted it. Sebastian Boenisch bombed down the left and put over a deep cross. The Peruvian striker got his head to it, but under pressure from Joris Mathijsen, he was unable to get any power or direction behind it. The visitors were instantly made to pay for that miss when HSV pushed firward to open the scoring. Centre-back Mathijsen was allowed to bring the ball up field without a challenge before releasing a great through ball to Olic. The Croatian kept his cool and clipped the ball over Tim Wiese, who went to a ground a little early. There followed a free kick opportunity for Naldo, which he saw deflected wide by Markus Rosenberg and a great pass from Guy Demel almost set up Olic for his second, but Wiese saved with his feet. However, the complexion of the game was changed on the half hour mark as Werder equalised and cancelled out HSV’s away goal from the first-leg. Diego began and finished the move as he passed to Pizarro before running on to collect the return ball. The mercurial Brazilian lifted the ball over Frank Rost to silence the home crown and raise Werder’s spirits. With their tails up and Diego becoming more predominant, the midfielder thumped a shot against the Hamburg crossbar on 37 minutes after leaving David Jarolim standing. The hosts countered straight away and saw a shot from Marcell Jansen force Wiese into a fine save at his near post. A spat between Brazilian duo Alex Silva and Diego on 41 minutes saw both players booked, which meant that Diego would be banned from the final if Werder made it. Second Half Neither side made any changes at half-time and kicked off a second-half, which promised to offer a lot of excitement and twists and turns. The game continued to be a little scrappy with David Jarolim booked on 51 minutes and Diego and Alex Silva carrying on their own personal feud. Werder then had a goal disallowed for offside after Claudio Pizarro headed in a Frank Baumann cross. The decision was tight, but correct from the assistant referee. Werder were then dealt a blow as centre-back Per Mertesacker had to limp off nine minutes into the second half with what seemed like the after effects of a foul by Olic in the first-half. The home crowd started to re-find their voice and inspired HSV to get forward and regain the upper hand. On the hour mark the home side really should have scored a second goal after brilliant play by Jansen. The full-back got superbly down the left beating Clemens Fritz before he fired a terrific low-ball across the face on the goal. Jonathan Pitroipa failed to make a contact, and Piotr Trochowski saw his goal-bound effort saved well by Wiese. Then on 66 minutes Werder put themselves in the box seat with their second goal of the evening.Pizarro picked the ball up in midfield from Baumann, and after shaking off the attention of Alex Silva, he unleashed a shot from 20 meters out. Rost looked poorly positioned as the ball flew into the back of the net to put Werder ahead on the away goals rule. The second away-goal stung Hamburg into action and Alex Silva fired in a low drilled effort on 70 minutes, which Wiese had to get down well to save. Hamburg secured a corner on 78 minutes, but Werder were the beneficiaries if a poor decision by referee de Bleeckere. Baumann looked to have dragged Olic to the round, but the official ruled against the striker and penalty was not awarded. The game then took a comical turn (but tragic one for HSV) with a piece of paper proving decisive. Defender Michael Gravgaard looked to pass the ball back to his keeper but shinned the ball out for a corner when it hit a rolled up ball of paper on the pitch and took a horrible bobble. The resulting corner saw Hugo Almeida headed the ball goalwards and when Rost saved it, Baumann was on hand to head over the line and seemingly put Werder into the final against Shakhtar. Hamburg weren’t giving up though and gave themselves hope on 87 minutes with Olic scoring his second of the game to set-up a frantic finish. Jerome Boateng crossed the ball in and Olic beat Fritz to head past Wiese. The home side poured forward at the end with Rost pushing into the Werder penalty area, but it was Werder who emerged triumphant to beat HSV in a second cup semi-final. Hamburg: Rost, Demel (Boateng 63), Gravgaard, Mathijsen, Jansen (Aogo 77), Jarolim, Alex Silva (Benjamin 72), Pitroipa, Trochowski, Petric, Olic Werder Bremen: Wiese, Fritz, Mertesacker (Proedl 54), Naldo, Boenisch, Baumann, Frings, Oezil, Diego, Rosenberg (Almeida 62), Pizarrro (Niemeyer 90)